Automatic mixer for soda-dispensing faucets



I Sept 1927' F. l. GUNNELL ET AL I AUTOMATIC MIXER FOR SODA DISPENSING FAUCETS Filed Oct. 5.- 1926 simple in construction, capable Patented Sept. 6 1927.

UNITED PATENT j;

rennx'reunnnm nun RALPH MILLER, or Los ANenLEs; cnmroenra; earn are L'En nssrenon ro enemies oeoivNELL AND KATHERINE GUNNELL, or Los ANGELES, ontrr01mm.

' AUTOMATIC MIXER son SODA-DISPENSING rnuonrs.

A pplication filed October 5, 1926. Serial No. 138,605.

Our invention relates generally to soda discharges from the faucet. and the syrup or flavoring extract that is contained in a drinking glass, or the like, that 1s positloned beneath the faucet.

The principal objects of our invention are device of relatively of being readily applied to practically all charged water dispensing faucets, to provide a mixing device that will be, effective in saving much of the time and labor that is ordinarily involved in the mixing of the charged water with syrups, fruit juices, and the like, that are contained in the drinking glass, and further, to provide a' mixing attachment for soda dispensing faucetsthat' is automatically thrown into operation as the syrup containing glass is placed in position beneath the 't oprovidean automatic mixing the character referred' tothat )8 spout or nozzlethrough whichthe charged I water dlscharges;

lVith the foregoing view, our invention consistsin certain novel featuresof construction} and arrangement of parts that will hereinaft'erbe. more fully described and claimed and illustrated, inthe accompanying drawing, in which 7 Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through the" center of a miXingdevice of our im proved construction and showing the same appliedto a. faucet, v

Fig Qisa side elevational view of the mixing device rwi'thfparts thereof broken away andin section Fig. 3 is a horizontal section-taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. i

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a practical embodimentof our invention, 10 designates the spout ornozzle' of a charged water delivery faucet, the end of said faucet being externally threaded for the reception of a bushing 11. Detachably secured to bushing 11 by means of serewslQ is the upper portion of a vertically disposed tubular member 13, the lower portion of which is constructed i0 form a discharge nozzle 14, and secured in any suitable manner onthe side of the tubular member is ahousingslfi that conand other objects in tainsa small motor, and which latter consists of a splralsprlng and aft/Iain of gear j 1ng. This spring motor forms no part of our invention as there are a number of vspring motors readily obtainable in the open marlcet that maybe used in the operation ofour improved mixer. s

The train of gearing 1n the motor is utili zed for driving a shaft 16 that projects through the wall of tubular member'13 and i 'said' shaft carrying on its outer end a beveled pinion 17. V

A vertically disposed shaft 18 extends ax ially through the lower portion oftubular member 13, said shaft being journaled for f rotation in bearings '19 and the upper end of said shaft carrying a beveled pinion QO that meshes with pinion 17;" Shaft 18 projects substantial distance below the lower end of nozzle 14 and secured to-"the lowe' end of said shaftis a mixing head 21. t

The spring motor within housing 15- is 1 ma1lyl e1d agai st operation by a detent-i V '22, the pomt of which engages between the v teeth of one of the gears wheels in the train.

Arranged for slidingmovement in suitable bearings in housing 15,1 5 a vertically disposed rod 23 with which cooperates a coil spring 24 that y eldingly resistsv forward mo ement ofsaid rod and the lower end of this rod terminates i'n the same horizontal plane with the lower end of nozzle 14;

Secured to the lower end of rod 23 and.

disposed to the side of the discharge endof nozzle ll, is a horizontally arranged arcuat plate 25 havingon itsou'ter edge a dependlng flange 26. r I

The spiral spring of the "niotor within housing 15 is wound up "by means of a small crank handleQTthat is mounted on the main spring carryingshaft 28.

Rod 23 carries a shoulder or stud 29 that is adapted to engage the tail of detent 22 to force the point thereof into engagement with one ofthe gear wheels of the train of gearing in housing 15 and a comparatively light spring 30 bears on the tail of said detent and acts to move the point thereof out of .en-

from the tail of-the detent.

In the operation of our improved mixing device, a drinking glass containing Syrup or flavoring extract is positionedbeneath the attachment so that the lower portion t shalt 1S and mixing head are positioned within said glass and the latter is elevated until the upper edge of said, glass eontacta with plate 1 15. ".lhe ap ilication ot a slight pressure to said plate will raise same and more rod Bil upward, thereby lifting pin or shoulder 29 from detentz 22, thereby permitting spring that is aesoeiated witl said detent, to shift same so that its point is disengaged from the teeth 01 the near wheel and the train of gearing under the influence oi spirit spring oil the motor will act to drive shalt lit and the motion 0 i the latter t anmniited throngrh pinion ii and E3!) to shaitt lt carrying the mixing: head Bl.

lfhen the "alve oi fanret It) is; open the charged water will discharge downwardtt throng h member 123 into the tles and, as the head 21 eontinnea to rotate, he eharejed i'ater will be t'llOlGlttl'lll) mixed with the syrup t r flavoring extrart while the charged water :ia tlowing into the pillars and conse qnently areomplishing: the desired remilts.

As soon as the pressure 01' the drinking; glass in relieved from plate 247 spring" it will a It to more rod 923 dtnvnward, thin-t mai inn detent into engagement i'ith the teeth oil the gear wheel forming; a part of the train within housing and eonsetpiently .-.=top pingfurther operation of the device.

Thus; it will be seen that we have pro ed a mixina attachment for soda ill-meets that i=1 relativel simple in eonatrnction. capable at being eaail and cheaply produced and which is 'ery e'lieetive in performing; the linni'tions for which it is; intended.

It will be understood that minor Clitll't'jftirt in the size, form and eonrtrnetion ot the various parts ot' our improved automatic mixer may be made and substituted for those herein shown and deaeribefl without depart;- inp; from the spirit at our inrention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim. as. our invention:

1. A mixing attaehment for soda tii:.:1)Ql1S inn i aneeta comprisimr a tubular member adapted to be detaehably applied to the. dis-r charge end 01? the itaijieet, a spring motor driven member carried by and de i ending from said tubular member, a mixing head carried by said tile 'iending member and mains ada iited to be engaged by a container positioned beneath the attachment; for throwing into operation the spring motor that aetnates: the mixing llEiltl carrying member.

:3. The combination with a soda dispensing :r'antet. of a tubnhir member detaehably connected to said ii'ancet a mixing member mounted tor rotation within said tubular member and depending tlierelirtnn, which minim niember inehidea a mixing; head, meana mounted on the side of the tubular member ilor aetnatine; raid mixing lllOll'lllQl. and means adapted to be actuated by a eontainer poaitioned beneath the tubular member for throwing into ope 'ation the 1nixing, member actuating means.

i. -r mixing attachment for soda dispensng faiieeta eomprising a tubular member idaptcd to be detacliizbly applied to a :taneet,

ahat't ionrnaled in and depending from i tiibnl a r member, a mixinghead earried h the lower end 01? said shaft, :1 motor mounted on said tnhnlar member, releasing; means aasor-iated with said motor and means having a portion lo ated adjacent to the discharge end ot' said tubular member for actriatino saitit releasing means.

l. The eomhination with a soda lispensinn; 'i'ancet, oil a tubular member detachably applied to said faucet a shaft jonrnaled in and depending; from said tnlnilar member a mixing head carried by the lower end of said shaft, :1 spring motor carried by said tubal: r membeand connected to the mixing hiad eari ring shaft or ope 'ating the same. reliasing means associated with the motor and a plate Forming a part 0! said releasing means, whirh plate is positioned adjacentto the discharge end of the tubular member so as to be engaged by a container positioned below the mixing; device.

in testimol'ry whereof W1, atlix our signatitres:

liltatli'tt I. (FHINNELL. *tALlZH iilILLER. 

